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Car shipping company lookup

Check any auto transport company before you book. Enter its USDOT number, MC number or name to see if it is licensed, insured and in good standing with the FMCSA — with red flags explained in plain English.

Examples: 2239816 (USDOT) · MC-795152 · or part of the company name. You'll find the numbers on the company's website, quote or contract.

Carrier

Empire Auto Transport Inc

USDOT 2944575 MC-996473 Naperville, IL (708) 277-9776

Email

Check the flagged items before you book

1 thing is worth asking the company about. None of them alone means a scam.

What we checked

  • USDOT number is active

    The company's federal registration is current.

  • Operating authority is active

    Authorized for hire across state lines as a carrier (it can haul cars itself) under MC-996473.

  • Liability insurance on file

    $1,000,000 of liability coverage is filed with FMCSA (required minimum: $750,000).

  • Cargo insurance not filed with FMCSA

    Federal rules don't require most carriers to file cargo coverage, so this is common. Ask for a certificate of insurance showing cargo coverage above your car's value.

  • No safety rating

    FMCSA has never audited this carrier. That is normal — most carriers are never rated.

  • In business for 9 years

    Registered with FMCSA since November 2016.

  • Out-of-service rate well above the national average

    17 inspections in 24 months. Vehicles were put out of service in 22.2% of inspections (national average 22.26%), drivers in 11.8% (national average 6.67%). Trucks or drivers put out of service at a roadside inspection had defects serious enough to stop them on the spot.

  • 0 reported crashes in the last 24 months

    No crashes were reported to FMCSA in the last two years.

Company details

Contact

Address
2807 Champion Rd, Naperville, IL 60564
Phone
(708) 277-9776
Email
safety@empireat.com

Company

Legal name
Empire Auto Transport Inc
Business type
Authorized for hire
Company officers
Alexander Burbo
Process agent (BOC-3)
#1 Ace Licensing & Permit Services LLC — Columbus, GA
USDOT issued
Nov 7, 2016
Last MCS-150 update
Jan 14, 2026

Operations

Operation
Interstate (can cross state lines)
Cargo it hauls
General freight, Motor vehicles, Fresh produce, Meat, Refrigerated food
Trucks
7 power units
Drivers
7 (7 with a CDL)
Miles driven a year
343,220 (2025)

Safety record, last 24 months

17Roadside inspections
22.2%Vehicle out-of-service rate
National average 22.26%
11.8%Driver out-of-service rate
National average 6.67%
0Crashes
0 with injuries · 0 fatal

Roadside inspections

Police and state inspectors stop trucks to check the vehicle and the driver. Out of service means a problem serious enough to stop the truck or driver on the spot.

DateStateInspectionViolationsOut of service
Aug 26, 2026WYDriver only (III)0No
Jul 30, 2026WAWalk-around (II)0No
Jul 24, 2026ALDriver only (III)6Driver
Jul 9, 2026WAWalk-around (II)1Driver
Jun 27, 2026OKFull (Level I)4No
May 13, 2026TNWalk-around (II)6Vehicle
Feb 6, 2026GADriver only (III)1No
Feb 1, 2026SCWalk-around (II)0No
Jan 6, 2026GAWalk-around (II)5Vehicle
Nov 19, 2025KYWalk-around (II)0No
Nov 11, 2025TNDriver only (III)0No
Sep 18, 2025ILDriver only (III)0No
Jun 12, 2025COWalk-around (II)0No
May 15, 2025MTDriver only (III)1No
May 4, 2025NDDriver only (III)0No
Dec 20, 2024NMDriver only (III)0No
Dec 1, 2024KSWalk-around (II)0No

Crashes

No crashes were reported in the last 24 months.

Insurance and bonds

On file now

TypeInsurerPolicyLimitEffective
Liability (BIPD)Siriuspoint America Insurance CompanyNNFTK4327845$1,000,000Feb 15, 2026

Ask the company for a certificate of insurance and check that the insurer and policy number match this table.

Past policies

Earlier filings, newest first. Cancelled, no replacement means coverage stopped with no new policy in place — a gap in insurance.

TypeInsurerFromUntilHow it ended
Liability (BIPD)Artisan & Truckers Casualty CompanyFeb 15, 2021Feb 15, 2026Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Northland Insurance CompanyFeb 15, 2020Feb 15, 2021Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Artisan & Truckers Casualty CompanyFeb 15, 2019Feb 15, 2020Replaced by a new policy
Liability (BIPD)Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Insurance CompanFeb 15, 2018Feb 15, 2019Cancelled, another policy took over
Liability (BIPD)Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Insurance CompanFeb 15, 2017Feb 15, 2018Cancelled, another policy took over

Operating authority history

Every change FMCSA recorded to the company's license to operate, newest first.

  • Granted or reinstated
  • Warning, resolved
  • Revoked or suspended
  • Other
  1. Revocation notice Carrier

    Resolved on Feb 9, 2018 — the company kept its authority.

  2. Authority granted Carrier

Source: FMCSA records published by the U.S. Department of Transportation, checked 23 hours ago. Authority and insurance come from FMCSA's licensing records (this company hasn't had a status change since FMCSA moved to its new Motus system in 2026). This report reflects public federal data only; it is not an endorsement or a guarantee of service.

What the lookup checks

Eight things to know before you hand over your keys

Every interstate car shipping company is registered with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The lookup reads that record and flags what matters to you as a customer.

  1. USDOT status

    Every company that moves vehicles across state lines needs an active USDOT number. Inactive means it has stopped operating or was shut down.

  2. Operating authority (MC number)

    Federal permission to ship cars for pay. Carriers hold carrier authority; brokers hold broker authority. No active authority, no legal interstate shipping.

  3. Liability insurance

    Carriers must keep at least $750,000 of liability coverage on file with the FMCSA. Most auto haulers carry $1,000,000.

  4. Broker bond

    Brokers must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. It protects customers and carriers if the broker doesn't pay.

  5. Out-of-service orders

    An FMCSA order to stop operating — after failed safety audits, unpaid fines or an imminent hazard.

  6. Safety rating and crashes

    Satisfactory, Conditional or Unsatisfactory after an FMCSA audit, plus crashes reported in the last 24 months.

  7. Time in business

    Scammers rarely keep a name for long. A registration only weeks or months old deserves extra caution.

  8. Carrier or broker

    Whether the company hauls your car itself or books a partner carrier — and whether it is actually registered to carry vehicles.

Beyond the records

Car shipping scam red flags

A clean FMCSA record is the minimum. These warning signs matter just as much — most car shipping complaints start with one of them.

  • A quote far below everyone else's. Lowball quotes get raised after booking or sit with no carrier for weeks. Compare with our car shipping cost calculator.
  • A big deposit by wire, Zelle or gift card. Reputable companies take $0–$250 upfront, usually by card, and the rest at pickup or delivery.
  • A name that doesn't match the record. The legal name or DBA on the FMCSA record should match the website, the contract and the truck.
  • "Guaranteed" pickup dates from a broker. A broker can't promise a date until a carrier is assigned — get the date in writing and ask who the carrier is.
  • No written contract or Bill of Lading. Inspect the car with the driver and sign the Bill of Lading at pickup and delivery — our car shipping checklist has a printable inspection form.

FAQ

Checking a car shipping company

Want companies that already passed these checks? Browse verified companies by state.

How do I check if a car shipping company is legit?

Look up its USDOT or MC number. A legitimate company has an active USDOT number, active operating authority (MC) as a carrier or broker, and insurance or a broker bond on file with the FMCSA. Then make sure the name on the record matches the company you are talking to, and be wary of any company registered in the last few months that asks for a large deposit.

What is the difference between a USDOT number and an MC number?

The USDOT number identifies the company and tracks its safety record, inspections and crashes. The MC number is its operating authority — federal permission to transport vehicles for pay across state lines. An interstate car shipping company needs both, and both must be active.

Where do I find a company's USDOT or MC number?

Licensed companies show them on their website (usually in the footer), in quotes and contracts, on the Bill of Lading and on the side of their trucks. If a company won't give you its USDOT or MC number, don't book with it.

Is it a red flag if the company is a broker?

No. Most online car shipping companies are brokers: they book your car with a partner carrier that runs the route. A legitimate broker has active broker authority and a $75,000 bond on file. Ask which carrier will haul your car and check that carrier too.

What insurance must a car shipping company have?

Interstate carriers must file at least $750,000 of liability insurance with the FMCSA (many auto haulers carry $1,000,000). Brokers must file a $75,000 surety bond or trust fund. Cargo insurance — the policy that pays for damage to your car — often isn't filed with the FMCSA, so ask for a certificate of insurance and check that the cargo limit covers your car's value.

What does "out of service" mean?

An out-of-service order is an FMCSA order to stop operating immediately, usually after an unsatisfactory safety rating, unpaid fines or an imminent hazard. A company under an active order must not move your car.

Where does this data come from and how current is it?

From the FMCSA's own records, published daily by the U.S. Department of Transportation. Results are refreshed at least every 12 hours. For a final check before you pay, you can also open the company's FMCSA SAFER snapshot from the report.